Beaming machines



Jan. 5, 1965 w. H. KIMPTON 3,163,914

- BEAMING MACHINES Filed Dec. 11, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR:

Mum/ 1 HHA'RY K mrrou Afro! Jan. 5, 1965 w. H. KIMPTON 3,163,914

BEAMING MACHINES Filed Dec. 11. 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: h/IumM Hmxy K/MProN United States Patent O 3,163,914 BEAMING MACHINES William Harry Kimpton, 22 Alton Road,

- Wilmslow, England Filed Dec. 11, 1962, Ser. No. 243,899 Claims priority, application Great Britain Dec. 23, 1961 14 Claims. (Cl. 28-35) This invention concerns beaming machines of the kind (hereinafter termed of the kind referred to) having a rotatable beam on which material is to be wound, and a presser roller maintaining pressure on the material as it is wound onto the beam.

According to the invention a beaming machine of the kind referred to includes means adapted to detect increments in the overall diameter of said beam due to the build-up of material thereon, and means adapted to be actuated by said first mentioned means so as to allow said beam to move away from said presser roller, whereby to maintain a substantially constant pressure between the periphery of the material on said beam and said presser roller throughout the beaming operation, whilst said presser roller remains in a substantially fixed position.

By saying that the presser roller remains in a substantially fixed position both here and throughout the specification and claims I mean that the presser roller only moves through distances which are very small compared with the overall displacement of the beam throughout the operation of winding material thereonto.

These and further features of the invention will be apparent from the following description with reference to the drawings, which show, in diagrammatic form, by way of example only, two beaming machines including alternative embodiments of the invention.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a side elevation of one beaming machine; and

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation of a further beaming machine.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a beam is secured to an axle 11 which is supported in bearings carried by parallel spaced apart support members 12. The support members 12 are pivoted at their lower ends on a rod 13 which is rigidly held by frame members (not shown) of the machine. The support members 12 carrying the beam 10 are held by a link member 14 which is pivoted at one end to one of the support members 12 and at the other end to the upper end of a further link member 15. The link member 15 is freely pivoted at its mid-point on a fixed axle 16 and its lower end is pivotally connected to the movable mem- 17 of a hydraulic jack 18 which is mounted in a horizontal position.

The beam 10, may be driven from an electric motor 19 which carries on its shaft a variable drive spring V-pulley 20. A double grooved V-pulley 21 is freely mounted on the rod 13, and is connected to the spring V-pulley 20 by a V-belt 22. A V-pulley 23 is secured to the axle 11, and is driven from the double grooved V-pulley 20 by a V- belt 24.

One of the support members 12 carries a lever 25 which operatively engages a further lever 26 which is fixed to the mounting block 27 of the electric motor 19. The mounting block 27 is pivoted on an axle 28 carried between support frames 29.

A presser roller 30 is carried on an axle 31 mounted between the vertically disposed arms of bell-crank levers 32 which are pivoted on an axle 33. On the upper side at the end of one of the horizontally disposed arms of the bell crank levers 32 is a knife 34 adapted to close a switch 35 when the bell-crank levers 32 rotate through a small predetermined arc in a clockwise direction.

The bell-crank levers 32 are held by tension springs "ice 36 secured to the underside of the ends of the horizontally disposed arms of the bell-crank levers 32. The lower ends of the springs 36 are secured to part of the frame 37 of the machine.

An overhead feed roller 38 supplies the material to be wound on the beam 10.

The switch 35 is connected in series with a battery 39 and a solenoid operated release valve 40 for the jack 18.

In use the beam 16 is set in the position shown in FIG. 1, so as to abut a set screw 41 carried in the frame of the machine, in this position the beam 10 engages the presser roller 30 and extends the springs 36 so as to give the required pressure between the beam 10 and the presser roller 30. The machine is then set in operation, and as the thickness of the material builds up on the beam 10, the presser roller 30 is forced away from the beam 10, thereby extending the springs 36 to a greater extent and closing the switch 35, whereupon the solenoid operated valve 40 is actuated releasing the jack 18, thus allowing the beam 10 to pivot about the axle 13 and thereby allowing the presser roller to return to its initial position. This process continues throughout the beaming operation, gradually lowering the beam 10 step-by-s'tep as the material is wound thereon, and substantially maintaining the required pressure between the presser roller 30 and the material on the beam 16.

As the beam 19 is lowered the levers 25 and 26 tilt the electric motor 19 on its mounting block 27 thereby causing the belt 22 to open the spring-pulley 20 which is so arranged as to give a constant take-on speed for the material at the beam 10 throughout the beaming operation.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a beaming machine having a modified construction from that described with reference to FIG. 1 is shown.

A beam 56 is secured to an axle 51 which is supported in bearings carried by parallel spaced apart support members 52. The support members 52 are pivoted at their lower ends on a rod 53 which is rigidly held by frame members (not shown) of the machine. The support members 52 are cranked, so that the centre of gravity of the beam 50 lies to the right of the axle 53. The beam 59 is prevented from pivoting about the axle 53 in a clockwise direction by a plate 54, against which the lower end 52a of one of the support members 52 bears.

The beam 50 is adapted to be driven from an electric motor (not shown) through a continuously variable gear box 55 having a speed control lever 56. The output shaft of the continuously variable gear box 55 carries a V- pulley 57 which is connected by a belt 58 to a further V-pulley 59, carried on the axle 53. The V-pulley 59 is in turn connected to a still further V-pulley 60, which is secured to the axle of the beam 59, by a belt 61.

A presser roller 62 is carried on an axle 63, which is mounted between the vertically disposed arms of bellcrank levers 64 which are pivoted on an axle 65. On the upper side at one end of one of the horizontally disposed arms of the bell-crank levers 64 is a knife 66, which is adapted to close a switch 67 whenever the bellcrank levers 64 rotate through a small predetermined arc in a clockwise direction.

The bell-crank levers 64 are held by tension springs 68 secured to the underside of the ends of the horizontally disposed arms thereof. springs 68 are secured to part of the frame of the machine.

The plate 54 is rigidly secured .to a rod 69 which carries on one end a piston 70, which is slidable within a hydraulic cylinder 71. The end of the rod remote from the piston 76 is freely slidable in a socket 72 which is rigidly secured .to the frame of the machine.

An oil reservoir 73 is connected by a pipe 74 to a pump 75 which is adapted to feed the hydraulic cylinder The lower ends of the tively locks it in position.

tact of the solenoid operated valve 78 isconnected via a draulic cylinder 71 with fluid from the reservoir 73, thereby forcing the rod 69 to the right and lifting the beam 50 to the position shown in FIG. 2 by co-operation of the plate 54 with the lower end 52a of one of the supportmembers 52. In raising the beam to this position, the beam 50 engages the presser roller 62 and extends the springs 68 so as to give the required pressure between the beam 50 and the presser roller 62. When the beam is correctly positioned, the pump 75 is stopped, and since the valve 78 is closed the hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic cylinder 71 supports the beam 50, and efifec- The machine is then set in operation, and the beam 50 rotated by means of the electric motor through the variable gear box 55. The .beam is wound with material from the feed roller 85, and as the thickness of the material builds up on the beam 50, the presser roller 62 is forced away from the beam 50, thereby extending the springs 68 toa greater extent, and closing the switch 67, whereupon the solenoid operated valve 78 is actuated to bleed otf from thehydraulic cylinder 71 some of the hydraulic fluid, which is returned.

ing operation, and the beam 50 is gradually lowered stepby-step as the material is wound thereon, and the pressure between the presser roller 62 and the beam 50 is maintained at a substantially. constant desired value.

As the beam 50 moves towards the right, the rod 69 and member 83 move towards the left. As the member 53 moves towards the left, the spring 81 expands, and maintains the lever 56 in contact with the cam surface 84 of the member 83. Thus, as the beam increases in efiective diameter, the lever 56 is moved in an anti-clockwise direction. The bear box 55 is so arranged, that this anticlockwise movement of the lever 56 controls same, in such a manner as to ensure a constant take-on speed for the material at the beam 50, throughout the beaming operation. 7

When the beaming operation is complete, and the beam is full of yarn, the machine is stopped. The beam 50 remains supported by the sealed fluid within the hydraulic cylinder 71, and may, when desired be lowered to the floor or onto a trolley as required by manually opening the valve 78, so as to bleed ofi the remainder of the fluid from the hydraulic cylinder 71. g

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the above example only, many variations being possible. For example, the invention may be embodied in beaming machines of the kind wherein the beam obtains its drive indirectly from the presser roller which is driven from a fixed speed drive.

Furthermore the operation of the relief valve of the hydraulic jack may be etfected in response to movement of the presser roller. by means other than a solenoid operated valve, hydraulic or mechanical means be ing possible.

mounting for said motor, and a system of belts and pulleys,

What I claim is:

1. A beaming machine including a beam, a presser roller engaging said beam, means adapted to detect increments in the overall diameter of said beam due to the build-up of material thereon, and means adapted to be actuated by said first mentioned means so as to allow said beam to move away from said presser roller, whereby to maintain a substantially, constant pressure between the periphery of the material on said beam and said presser roller throughout the beaming operation, whilst said presser roller remains, in a substantially fixed position, said second mentioned means comprising an hydraulic cylinder adapted to contain an hydraulic fluid, a piston slidable in said cylinder, means secured to said piston and adapted to support said beam in position, and valve means responsive to said first mentioned means and adapted to bleed hydraulic fluid from said cylinder so as to allow said beam to move away from said presser roller.

2. A beaming machine according to claim 1, including support members for said beam, said support members being adapted to pivot to allow said beam to move away from said presser roller.

. 3. A beaming machine according to claim 2, wherein said means carried by said piston and adapted to support said beam comprise a piston rod, a first lever pivoted at a position between its two ends, and a second lever, one end of said first lever being pivoted to said rod, the other end of said first lever being pivoted to one end of said second lever, and the other end of said second lever being pivoted to one of said support members at a position between said beam and the position about which said support member is adapted to pivot.

4. A beaming machine'according to claim 2, including an axle on which said support members are pivoted at a position intermediate'their two ends, said support members being bent so that the centre of gravity of said beam lies to one side of said axle, and wherein said means connected to said piston comprise a rod and a plate carried on said rod, the end of one of said support members remote from said beambeing adapted to bear against said plate in such a manner as to support said beam in position.

5. A beaming machine according toclaim 4, including drive means for said beam, said drive means comprising a motor, a continuously variable gear, control means for said gear and a system of belts and pulleys, said control means for said gear being adapted to be actuated by said rod in such a manner that the material is wound onto the beam at a constant speed throughout the beaming operation.

6. A beaming machine according to claim 5, wherein said control means for said gear comprises a lever, and including a member adapted to bear against said lever secured on said rod, and a spring disposed over said rod and bearing against the side of said lever remote from said member, whereby said lever is maintained in contac with said member at all times.

A beaming machine according to claim 3, including drive means for said beam comprising a motor, a pivoted one of said pulleys being secured to said motor and being a variable drive spring V-pulley, and wherein means is provided which is adapted to tilt said motor as said beam moves away from said presser roller,,in such a manner as to change the distance between said spring V-pulley and the pulley connected therewith, whereby to maintain a substantially constant take-on speed for the material at the beam throughout the beaming operation.

8. A beaming machine according to claim 1, wherein said valve means comprises a solenoid operated valve. 9. A beaming machine according to claim 6, wherein said valve means comprises a solenoid operated valve.

10. A beaming machine according to claim 7, wherein said valve means comprises a solenoid operated valve.

11. A beaming machine according to claim 1 including resiliently mounted members which carry said presser roller and force same into pressurized engagement with said beam, a switch, means on one of said resiliently mounted members adapted to close said switch whenever said presser roller moves through a small predetermined distance in response to the build-up of material on said beam, and including a circuit containing said switch, which circuit is adapted to actuate said second mentioned means, said switch comprising said first mentioned means.

12. A beaming machine according to claim 1, including resiliently mounted members which carry said presser roller and force same into pressurised engagement with said beam, a switch, means on one of said resiliently mounted members adapted to close said switch whenever said presser roller moves through a small predetermined distance in response to the build-up of material on said beam, and including a circuit containing said switch, which circuit is adapted to actuate said valve, said switch comprising said first mentioned means.

13. A beaming machine according to claim 9 including resiliently mounted members which carry said presser 20 roller and force same into pressurised engagement with said beam, a switch, means on one of said resiliently mounted members adapted to close said switch whenever said presser roller moves through a small predetermined distance in response to the build-up of material on said beam, and including a circuit containing said switch, which circuit is adapted to actuate said solenoid operated valve, said switch comprising said first mentioned means.

14. A beaming machine according to claim 10 including resiliently mounted members which carry said presser roller and force same into pressurised engagement with said beam, a switch, means on one of said resilienlty mounted members adapted to close said switch whenever said presser roller moves through a small predetermined distance in response to the build-up of material on said beam, and including a circuit containing said switch, which circuit is adapted to actuate said solenoid operated valve, said switch comprising said first mentioned means.

- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,890,197 Sussmuth Dec. 6, 1932 2,324,612 Lambach July 20, 1943 2,371,620 Hartung Mar. 20, 1945 2,834,091 Furst May 13, 1958 

1. A BEAMING MACHINE INCLUDING A BEAM, A PRESSER ROLLER ENGAGING SAID BEAM, MEANS ADAPTED TO DETECT INCREMENTS IN THE OVERALL DIAMETER OF SAID BEAM DUE TO THE BUILD-UP OF MATERIAL THEREON, AND MEANS ADAPTED TO BE ACTUATED BY SAID FIRST MENTIONED MEANS SO AS TO ALLOW SAID BEAM TO MOVE AWAY FROM SAID PRESSER, WHEREBY TO MAINTAIN A SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT PRESSURE BETWEEN THE PERIPHERY OF THE MATERIAL ON SAID BEAM AND SAID PRESSER ROLLER THROUGHOUT THE BEAMING OPERATION, WHILST SAID PRESSER ROLLER MENTIONED MEANS COMPRISING AN HYDRAULIC SAID SECOND MENTIONED MEANS COMPRISING AN HYDRAULIC CYLINDER ADAPTED TO CONTAIN AN HYDRAULIC FLUID, A PISTON SLIABLE IN SAID CYLINDER, MEANS SECURED TO SAID PISTON AND ADAPTED TO SUPPORT SAID BEAM IN POSITION, AND VALVE MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID FIRST MENTIONED MEANS AND ADAPTED TO BLEED HYDRAULIC FLUID FROM SAID CYLINDER SO AS TO ALLOW SAID BEAM TO MOVE AWAY FROM SAID PRESSER ROLLER. 